Despite being the largest producer of apples in the country, the Valley is still unable to export its rich-quality apples as fruit growers are not being provided export licences.
Even the domestic markets of the “Kashmiri apple” brand are shrinking due to imports from China, Spain and America. Although 4.5 crore apple boxes were exported from the Valley to other states in 2012, the Kashmir-based fruit growers say a large stock of apples is lying in various cold storages of fruit mandis (markets) of the country as people are preferring Chinese and American varieties to Kashmiri.
“Even though Kashmiri apples are considered Asia’s best-quality apples, the same are not available in fruit markets outside the country which affects the economy of the state since 70 per cent population is directly or indirectly engaged in the horticulture sector. To top it all, the imports from other countries are further decreasing the worth of Kashmiri apples,” said Ghulam Rasool Wagay, president of the Kashmir’s Fruit Growers Association.
